U.S. patent application number 12/729326 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-15 for in-line treatment of liquids and gases by light irradiation.
Invention is credited to Uri Levy, Joseph Rabani, Ytzhak Rozenberg, Zamir TRIBELSKY.
Application Number | 20100178201 12/729326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32652305 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100178201 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TRIBELSKY; Zamir ; et
al. |
July 15, 2010 |
IN-LINE TREATMENT OF LIQUIDS AND GASES BY LIGHT IRRADIATION
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a liquid
disinfection device. The device may include a pipeline to hold
flowing liquid to be treated with light radiation where the
pipeline having walls made of light-transparent material and
surrounded by air, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and one or more
windows adapted for the transmission of light into the pipeline.
The device may further include one or more light sources positioned
externally to the pipeline to generate light to be transmitted
through the window into the flowing liquid within the pipeline and
a reflector to reflect light generated by the one or more light
sources through respective windows into the flowing liquid within
the pipeline, wherein the reflected light strikes the walls of the
pipeline at angles of incidence greater than a critical angle for
total internal reflection to enable the total internal
reflection.
Inventors: |
TRIBELSKY; Zamir; (Mevaseret
Tzion, IL) ; Rozenberg; Ytzhak; (Ramat Gan, IL)
; Levy; Uri; (Rehovot, IL) ; Rabani; Joseph;
(Jerusalem, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP
1500 Broadway, 12th Floor
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
32652305 |
Appl. No.: |
12/729326 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10566992 |
Jan 4, 2007 |
7683344 |
|
|
PCT/IL2004/000717 |
Aug 4, 2004 |
|
|
|
12729326 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/24 ; 250/372;
250/435 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 9/205 20130101;
C02F 1/34 20130101; A61L 2/10 20130101; A61L 2/183 20130101; C02F
1/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/24 ; 250/435;
250/372 |
International
Class: |
A61L 2/10 20060101
A61L002/10; A61L 2/24 20060101 A61L002/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 2003 |
IL |
157229 |
Claims
1. A liquid disinfection device comprising: a pipeline to hold
flowing liquid to be treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the
pipeline comprising walls made of UV-transparent material and
surrounded by air, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and one or
more UV-transparent windows; one or more UV light sources
positioned externally to the pipeline to generate light to be
transmitted through the one or more windows into the flowing liquid
within the pipeline; and one or more reflectors to reflect light
generated by the UV light source into the flowing liquid within the
pipeline, wherein the reflected light strikes the walls of the
pipeline at angles of incidence greater than a critical angle for
total internal reflection to enable the total internal
reflection.
2. The liquid disinfection device of claim 1, wherein the walls of
the pipeline are made of quartz.
3. The liquid disinfection device of claim 1, wherein the pipeline
is positioned inside a protective sleeve with an air gap in
between.
4. The liquid disinfection device of claim 1, wherein the window is
provided with an optical filter to block light of a predetermined
wavelength spectrum from entering the pipeline.
5. The liquid disinfection device of claim 1, further comprising
one or more light detectors to detect light energy at one or more
predetermined regions of the pipeline, and a controller to control
one or more disinfection-related parameters of said disinfection
device based on the detected light energy.
6. The liquid disinfection device of claim 1, wherein a first one
of said UV-light sources is positioned in proximity to the liquid
inlet and a second one of said UV-light sources is positioned in
proximity to the liquid outlet.
7. The liquid disinfection device of claim 1, wherein one of said
UV-transparent windows is located in proximity to the liquid inlet
such that the liquid flows in a space between the window and the
pipeline.
8. A method for disinfecting liquids by ultraviolet (UV) light, the
method comprising: accommodating flowing liquid to be disinfected
in a pipeline comprising walls made of a UV-transparent material;
positioning a UV-transparent window externally to the pipeline
leaving a space between said window and said pipeline for liquid to
flow; generating UV light externally to the pipeline to be
transmitted trough the UV-transparent window into the flowing
liquid within the pipeline; and reflecting, with a reflector, the
UV light into the liquid flowing through the pipeline such that
light is transmitted through the window into the liquid, and such
that a major portion of said light strikes the walls of the
pipeline at angles of incidence greater than a critical angle for
total internal reflection to enable the total internal
reflection.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the transparent
material is quartz.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation Application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/566,992 having a filing date of Jan.
4, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,683,344 which is a National Phase
Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/IL2004/000717
International Filing Date Aug. 4, 2004 entitled "In-Line Treatment
Of Liquids And Gases By Light Irradiation", which in turn claims
priority from Israel Patent Application No. 157229, filed on Aug.
4, 2003, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to in-line irradiation of fluids, and
more specifically to the treatment of liquids (especially water)
and gases (especially air) on their way from a source to a
destination by light radiation (especially in the UV range).
Further more the present invention relates to disinfection of solid
surfaces related to the in-line treatment of the liquids or
gases.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Water is a multi purpose life resource. It uses for
drinking, cleaning, irrigation, swimming, and for very wide variety
of industrial utilities including in the food industry. Due to the
vitality of water for life, population development significantly
influenced from the availability of water, and thus efforts are
always made to increase water availability and to reduce the
expenses involved in their production. This is because the
existence of rich water sources not always assures their adaptation
to the intended use, due to the presence of other substances in it.
In many of water uses there exist standards and health requirements
as for the quality of water with respect to the concentration of
contaminants in it, which are no doubt essential, but normally
increase the production costs of water due to special treatments it
should have in order to bringing it with conformity with such
standards and requirements. The costs of water treatment is often
such high, such that pure populations cannot withstand, thus
abandon themselves to the dangers hiding in non treated water.
Furthermore, costs of water treatment many time prevent water
recycling, and thus even in places all over the world were water is
not so much available or low priced, water is wasted in huge
amounts after single use, since their recycling treatment costs
higher.
[0004] Although in pure populations the costs of water production
are critical to people lives, they are also of highly significance
in well developed populations as well, from several aspects. This
is because water treatment costs very much influence life level
indexes, since water is involved in all life aspects either
directly (i.e. in direct consumption such as drinking, washing,
swimming) and indirectly (i.e. in indirect consumption such as
industrial processes).
[0005] The present invention shall concentrate on disinfection and
decontamination of water from health damaging biological and
chemical substances.
[0006] When dealing with water disinfection, it should always be
remembered that in order to maintain the aseptic conditions of
disinfected water, it is required that all the solids and gasses
that may become in contact with such water should be disinfected as
well then maintained in an appropriate aseptic condition.
[0007] During the years several basic concepts of disinfection and
decontamination of water have been developed, which compete on the
global market with their advantages and disadvantages.
[0008] Many times, producers harness several disinfection concepts
on one production line, wherein, for example, water reservoirs and
conveyor belts are decontaminated using toxic chemicals (then
washed very strictly to avoid chemical residuals from the end
product), water pipes are decontaminated by delivering boiled
water, end product bottles are disinfected using chemicals, and the
water itself (as a product) may be irradiated by UV light for
disinfection.
[0009] It is appreciated that a most significant factor in
determining what treatment concept would be chosen for a
decontamination treatment, is the cost involved. Probably, chemical
disinfection process which involves the use of toxic substances
which should then be cleaned off and removed, will not be chosen
unless other concepts, e.g. heating, costs higher.
[0010] Another clean disinfection concept which involves no toxic
substances is irradiating the disinfected medium by germicidal UV
light. However, although many patents have been issued and many
efforts are all the time made to provide UV disinfection system
having industrial capacity that may address all sorts of production
requirements and still offer reasonable prices either for
establishment and for current maintenance, a great success in that
field could not yet be observed.
[0011] One obstacle in the path of providing optimal UV
disinfection devices is the cost of the optics. Optic systems which
will allow for a reliable disinfection process needs to ensure that
each and every portion of the disinfectant will receive appropriate
amount of germicidal energy. Unfortunately, the either the basic
costs and the maintenance costs of such optical systems are not
small enough so as one may absolutely prefer the UV concept versus
others.
[0012] One obstacle in the path of providing optimal UV
disinfection devices is the cost of the UV light source itself, and
of course its maintenance costs.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,937 to Horton et. al. and U.S. Pat. No.
5,200,156 to Wedekamp, are both directed to irradiating flowing
fluids with UV light in a direction along the flowing path, in
order to maximize the efficiency of the UV energy and to minimize
the absorption of UV light by the walls of vessels or pipes which
contain the irradiated fluid. For this purpose UV light sources are
arranged according to said patents to emit maximum energy in a
direction parallel to the axis of a pipe (or pipes) through which
flows the fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention relates to a reactor for the treatment
of fluids with light radiation, comprising a tube or a vessel made
of transparent material and surrounded by air, and having a fluid
inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least one opening or window adapted
for the transmission of light from an external light source into
the tube.
[0015] According to various preferred embodiments of the present
invention the tube or the vessel is made of quartz.
[0016] According to various preferred embodiments of the present
invention the tube or the vessel is positioned inside a protective
sleeve with an air gap in between.
[0017] According to various preferred embodiments of the present
invention the window is provided with optical filter for avoiding
light of unwanted wavelengths from entering the reactor.
[0018] According to various preferred embodiments of the present
invention the reactor is further comprising light detectors in
light communication with predetermined regions at an outer side of
the tube or the vessel and in data communication with a controller
of a disinfection system making use of the reactor.
[0019] According to additional embodiments of the present invention
the reactor is further comprising at least one additional tube or
vessel made of transparent material wherein the transparent tubes
are of descending diameters and are positioned one inside another
with gaps in between, about the same longitudinal axis, forming a
multi core reactor.
[0020] According to other embodiments the reactor is further
comprising at least one additional tube made of transparent
material wherein the transparent tubes or vessels are of descending
diameters and are positioned one inside another with gaps in
between, about the same longitudinal axis, forming a multi core
reactor.
[0021] According to various preferred embodiments the fluid outlet
is formed as a filling nozzle in a liquid filling apparatus, or as
a water launcher in a washing apparatus.
[0022] The present invention refers also to a disinfection device,
comprising at least one reactor as defined by any of the previous
claims, and at least one light radiation source aligned into the
reactor.
[0023] The device according to the present invention may further
comprise light detectors in light communication with predetermined
regions of a transparent wall of a tube inside the reactor, and in
data communication with a controller of the disinfection
device.
[0024] The device of the present invention could be used in a
domestic water supply system, and accordingly may further comprise
a faucet adapted to be activated by a domestic user, in liquid
communication with a fluid outlet of the reactor.
[0025] The device of the present invention could be used also in an
air conditioning or circulating system, with its fluid inlet or
outlet in air communication with at least one air blower or air
pump.
[0026] According to various preferred embodiments the at least one
light radiation source of the device of the present invention is
selected from microwave excited electrodeless UV plasma lamp, UV
laser, mercury lamp, spherical medium pressure UV lamp, or any
other acceptable source of light.
[0027] The present invention further relate to a method for
irradiating fluids, the method comprising accommodating fluid in a
reactor, the walls of which are made of a transparent material, and
the surrounding outside the wall is of a refractive index lower
then that of the wall, and irradiating the accommodated fluid with
light radiation aligned into the fluid in such an angle, such that
light is transmitted through the fluid, and such that a major
portion of light which leaves the fluid through its boundaries with
the transparent wall is reflected back into the fluid or remains to
shine along the transparent wall.
[0028] The method of the present invention refers either to
operation modes wherein the fluid is in continuous flow during the
irradiating process, as well as to operation modes wherein the
fluid is held motionless for a predetermined time interval of the
treatment.
[0029] According to various preferred embodiments of the invention
the transparent material of the reactor is quartz.
[0030] According to various common uses of the method of the
present invention, the fluid accommodated in the reactor is water
or other liquid transparent to certain wave lengths of the light
radiation.
[0031] According to various utilization ways of the method of the
present invention the fluid accommodated in the reactor is water or
other liquid transparent to certain wave lengths of the light
radiation, and the method is further comprising launching the water
from the outlet to form a free flow water jet with light radiation
locked in total internal reflection within the jet.
[0032] The method of in-line disinfection according to the present
invention may further comprising washing a surface or a container
with the free flow jet, or filling a bottle or a container with the
free flow jet. According to additional implementations of the
method, it comprises filling a container with the free flow jet,
and simultaneously evacuating the air rejected from the container
by the liquid being filled, and suctioning it into a second reactor
according to the present invention, or into a second flow channel
in the same reactor in which the liquid is irradiated, for
irradiating the air.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] The present invention relates to a method for irradiating
fluids (mainly liquids, and most specifically water, however, as
will be further explained, according to various embodiments air
could be treated as well, and according to other embodiments
portions of irradiation energy escaping the liquid flowing in one
flow channel could be utilized for treatment of air in a separate
flow channel), the method comprising accommodating (either in flow,
otherwise immovably for a predetermined treatment time interval)
liquid in a reactor (hereinafter will be referred to also as
"tube", "vessel" or "pipeline") the walls of which are made of a
transparent material preferably (in order to allow total internal
reflection within a sufficiently wide range of angles of incidence
of the light radiation) having a refractive index as close as
possible to or lower than that of the liquid, and the surrounding
outside the wall is of a refractive index lower then that of the
transparent wall, and irradiating the accommodated liquid with
light radiation aligned into the liquid in such an angle, such that
light is transmitted through the liquid, and such that a major
portion of light which leaves the liquid through its boundaries
with the transparent wall is reflected back into the liquid (in
most cases this reflection will preferably be designed as total
internal reflection (TIR)) or remains to shine along the pipeline
wall.
[0034] As will be further explained, light which remains trapped to
shine inside the pipeline wall (due to total internal reflection
between the wall boundaries with the water and between the wall
boundaries with the air) could still be utilized when it exits
through the pipeline edge. Furthermore and as will be explained in
detail later on, light refracted out of the pipeline to the
surrounding air, could still be utilized for irradiating the
air.
[0035] It should be notified that method and devices for
irradiation of liquids or of gases according to the present
invention has mainly been developed by the inventors of the present
invention for the purpose of disinfecting, decontaminating,
sterilizing, or neutralizing hazardous biological or chemical
substances that may exist in the liquids or gases to be treated.
However, the present invention does not limit itself from other
processes that could be carried out for the treatment of liquids or
of gases using the method or the devices according to the present
invention.
[0036] According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, especially useful for irradiating water (having
refractive index N1=1.33), the pipeline wall is made of quartz
(having refractive index N2=1.54), and the surrounding is of air
(having refractive index N3=1.0003).
[0037] The light energy is preferably directed into the liquid such
that all light components will enter the liquid in angles greater
then the critical angel for obtaining total internal reflection
(TIR) of the light inside the liquid. However if so desired, it is
possible to guide the light energy (or parts of it) in smaller
angles in order to intentionally lose predetermined amounts of
light energy, e.g. for irradiating the air around the pipeline or
e.g. for having predetermined light energy emerging from the edge
of the pipeline for irradiating a target opposite the edge.
[0038] Preferably, the quartz pipeline is placed inside a
protective sleeve made of metal or of plastic, with an air gap in
between. Spacers could be positioned near the ends of the pipeline
or in predetermined intervals along its length in order to hold the
pipeline with its longitudinal axis substantially overlapping that
of the sleeve. The spacers could be made as integral protrusions
protruding from the pipeline material, from the sleeve material, or
from a separate material located or bonded between the sleeve and
the pipeline, or a combination thereof.
[0039] According to various embodiments of the present invention,
at least one light sensor is provided in the air gap between the
sleeve and the pipeline for monitoring light characteristics. This
could be helpful for obtaining real time information and using it
as a feedback for controlling the light, or as an alarm for the
water condition e.g. in washing water recycling system in a plant
wherein a small amount of water is used according to the present
invention for washing pre-filled containers and is disinfected
in-line according to the method of the present invention. The water
could thus be recycled until the monitored intensity, of the
irradiating energy is decreasing beyond a predetermine lower limit
which notifies the system that water turbidity percentage prevents
effective disinfection, so that the used water should be replaced
by fresh, or alternatively, UV light intensity should be increased
until it comply with the current water conditions (i.e. until the
monitored intensity returns above a predetermined threshold).
[0040] It should be appreciated that due to the internal reflection
phenomenon (and preferably total internal reflection), the pipeline
according to the present invention is not limited to straight
paths, and it could be designed in a non linear manner according to
local requirements of a specific plant e.g. bottle filing plant,
water purifying plant etc.).
[0041] It should further be appreciated that due to the internal
reflection inside the pipeline, the average path length made by the
entire light photons emitted by a light source during a given time
interval, is greater according to the present invention in tens of
percents comparing to the average path length made by a similar
dose of light photons directed into conventional pipes of straight
lines, e.g. of U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,937 to Horton et. al. and of
U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,156 to Wedekamp. In these patents, a photon
that finds its direction diagonally to the pipe axis is absorbed by
the pipe wall, while in the pipeline according to the present
invention it will be reflected back into the liquid, zigzagging
through the water all along the pipeline length.
[0042] Due to the longer light path per a given length reactor, and
due to the possibility to "fold" the reactor by bending it in
spirals or in windings, the reactor according to the present
invention may have more compact design and could be adapted more
easily to different design requirements as may exist in various
sites and production lines were the disinfection system should be
installed.
[0043] It should be noted however that the greater the path of the
light inside the water is, the greater the light efficiency is.
This is because the probability of every photon to meet bacteria
(or other toxic specie or chemical) along its way is increased as
its path length in the water increases.
[0044] Therefore, according to various preferred embodiments of the
present invention the pipeline length is extended intentionally
(i.e. in addition to the inherent path extension of the light due
to the internal reflection) as a part of the design, thus
increasing the water path length and the average light path length
inside, respectively. To this end, the pipeline could be provided
in winding format, or in spiral shape that will allow accommodating
a pipe of a relatively long length in a disinfection device of
relatively small dimensions. Such increase in the light path length
through the water is inapplicable in prior art systems, and as
could be appreciated from U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,937 to Horton et. al.
and of U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,156 to Wedekamp, the UV energy is
designed to be completely absorbed in the water in straight pipe
lines. As could be appreciated, prior art disinfection systems are
limited of having the light radiation passing windings in the
pipeline. Accordingly, UV energy distribution in prior art systems,
is designed such that energy is distributed laterally. Although
both U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,937 to Horton et. al. and U.S. Pat. No.
5,200,156 to Wedekamp, are directed to in-line disinfection, i.e.
to light distribution along the path of flow, both involves
parallel distribution of the energy. Horton uses an array of
parallel pipes, while Wedekamp uses an array of UV light sources
within a chamber of an increased diameter in a mid portion of the
pipeline. Although the present invention does not restricts itself
from using parallel geometries, its main approach, contrarily to
prior art systems, is to concentrate large light power through the
length of the pipelines, in order to distribute the energy to
maximum possible extent. While in prior art system the
implementation of such approach will involve great lose of energy
that will be absorbed by pipeline walls, the present invention
allows for using powerful light pulses of pick powers of several
orders greater then in prior art systems and without lose of
efficiency, because in the present invention the water path could
be extended as much as required for absorbing the entire light
energy in the water.
[0045] The use of burst pulses of UV light having extreme pick
power is known in its significantly efficient bacteria killing,
comparing to similar amounts of energy when distributed averagely
(e.g. in CW, or in relatively wide pulses i.e. pulses lasting for
more then several microseconds and having moderate pick power
declining in water after several tens of centimeters of
absorbance). According to the present invention extremely high pick
power pulses could be utilized and be adapted to pass through
respective long flow paths (without being absorbed and get lost
inside the pipeline walls as occur in prior art devices), due to
the light conductivity of pipeline wall according to the present
invention and due to the total internal reflection that could be
achieved by surrounding the transparent pipe lines with a gap of
air.
[0046] The present invention further relates to new geometry of
coupling UV light (especially of light sources emitting the light
from longitudinal tubes, e.g. Microwave Excited UV-Lamps, or
various types of mercury UV lamps) into pipelines for the purpose
of in-line disinfection.
[0047] According to this new geometry the UV light tube is
positioned with its axis parallel to a substantially straight
window made in or being the wall of a junction between two ends of
pipe segments oriented with an angle between them both, the angle
is preferably as twice or more wider than the critical angle for
total internal reflection in the pipe segments, such that the light
emitted from a substantially one half of the UV light tube length
enters the window and irradiating the water accommodated in one of
the pipe segments while the light emitted from substantially the
second half of the UV light tube length enters the window and
irradiating the water accommodated in the second of the two pipe
segments. The UV light tube is equipped with a reflector on its
backside (the side of it which is opposite to the window) which is
designed to reflect light emitted from the backside of the tube or
light reflected back from the window, back into the two pipe
segments. Each of the pipe segments could be of a length and of a
path form according to particular design considerations differing
from one case to another. For example the pipe segment could be
extended in windings or in spiral configuration for a length
appropriate to efficient utilization of the energy of a
predetermined light tube. Each segment could also be connected at
its opposite end in a similar manner to another pipe segment, with
a similar substantially straight window in the junction there
between, wherein another light tube (and accompanied reflector)
could be positioned for dividing its illumination between the two
light segments. As may be appreciated, this configuration could be
extended like a chain of pipe segments wherein each two of which
are interconnected in an appropriate angle and having a
substantially straight window in the junction thereof, useful for
receiving the light from the UV light tube, with total internal
reflection inside each of the segments. This architecture is
advantageous no only in that it allows to design in-line
disinfection systems without limitations concerning the liquid path
length, but also in that it facilitate the maintenance of such
disinfection systems by allowing replacement of malfunctioning
light radiation sources during the disinfection process, i.e.
without stopping the flow of liquid. Furthermore, it allows for
adapting the number of active light radiation sources on-real time
basis, according to the flow rate in the pipeline.
[0048] The present invention further relates to in-line
disinfection system of fluids (mainly liquids, and most
specifically water, however, as will be further explained, portions
of irradiation energy escaping the liquid could be utilized for
treatment of air), comprising (a) at least one pipeline segment,
the walls of which are made of a transparent material having a
refractive index close to or lower than that of the liquid, and the
surrounding outside the wall is of a refractive index lower then
that of the wall; (b) light radiation source aligned into the
liquid in such an angle, such that its light could be transmitted
through the liquid, and such that a major portion of light which
may leave the liquid through its boundaries with the pipeline wall
is reflected back into the liquid (preferably in total internal
reflection (TIR)) or remains to shine along the pipeline wall.
[0049] As will be further explained, light which remains trapped to
shine inside the pipeline wall (due to total internal reflection
between the wall boundaries with the water and between the wall
boundaries with the air) could still be utilized when it exits
through the pipeline edge. Furthermore and as will be explained in
detail later on, light refracted out of the pipeline to the
surrounding air, could still be utilized for irradiating the
air.
[0050] According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, especially useful for irradiating water (having
refractive index N1=1.33), the pipeline wall is-made of quartz
(having refractive index N2=1.54), and the surrounding is of air
(having refractive index N3=1.0003).
[0051] Preferably, the quartz pipeline is placed inside a
protective sleeve made of metal or of plastic, with an air gap in
between. Spacers could be positioned near the ends of the pipeline
or in predetermined intervals along its length in order to hold the
pipeline with its longitudinal axis substantially overlapping that
of the sleeve. The spacers could be made as integral protrusions
protruding from the pipeline material, from the sleeve material, or
from a separate material located or bonded between the sleeve and
the pipeline, or a combination thereof.
[0052] According to various embodiments of the present invention,
at least one light sensor is provided in the air gap between the
sleeve and the pipeline for monitoring light characteristics. This
could be helpful for obtaining real time information and using it
as a feedback for controlling the light, or as an alarm for the
water condition e.g. in washing water recycling system in a plant
wherein a small amount of water is used according to the present
invention for washing pre-filled containers and is disinfected
in-line according to the method of the present invention. The water
could thus be recycled until the monitored intensity of the
irradiating energy is decreasing beyond a predetermine lower limit
which notifies the system that water turbidity percentage prevents
effective disinfection, so that the used water should be replaced
by fresh, or alternatively, UV light intensity should be increased
until it comply with the current water conditions i.e. until the
monitored intensity returns above a predetermined threshold).
[0053] According to various embodiments of the present invention,
the reactor is made multi-core, i.e. the path of the liquid is
through at least two pipelines each is of a different diameter, all
of which are arranged one inside another about a substantially one
common imaginary axis in a descending diameters order, such that a
plurality of separate flow channels are created each between two
parallel neighboring pipelines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, it will now be described, by way of
non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view along a basic
reactor according to the present invention.
[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates the general optical path of light
irradiated through the reactor of FIG. 1.
[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates in an approximated curve the energy
distribution density in a reactor cross section.
[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates in an approximate curve the fluid flow
distribution in a reactor cross section.
[0059] FIG. 5 illustrates in an approximate curve a superposition
between the curves of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
[0060] FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the optical paths of light
through a quartz reactor according to the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of a basic dual
reactor intended to the treatment of liquid in a first flow path
and of gas in a second flow path.
[0062] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of a basic reactor
having two light radiation sources operating in opposite
directions.
[0063] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view of a basic reactor
having a back reflector.
[0064] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view of another
reactor embodiment according to the present invention, having a
spherical medium-pressure UV lamp and a back reactor.
[0065] FIG. 11 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
embodiment according to the present invention having conical flow
concentrator.
[0066] FIG. 12 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having light monitoring
detectors.
[0067] FIG. 13 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having additional sources of
light radiation positioned in the air gap between the reactor wall
and its protective sleeve.
[0068] FIG. 14 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having a bent portion.
[0069] FIG. 15 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention ending with liquid launcher for
acting as a disinfecting and washing device and/or as an aseptic
filler device.
[0070] FIG. 15A illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
embodiment according to the present invention ending with quartz
rod for dry disinfection e.g. of pre-filled containers.
[0071] FIG. 15B illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
embodiment according to the present invention ending with quartz
tube for dry disinfection e.g. of pre-filled containers.
[0072] FIG. 16 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having a quartz multi-core
comprising two quartz tubes forming double length flow path.
[0073] FIG. 17 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having a quartz multi-core
comprising two quartz tubes forming dual flow path.
[0074] FIG. 18 illustrates multi reactor system architecture
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention.
[0075] FIG. 19 illustrates multi reactor system architecture
according to another embodiment of the present invention,
especially useful for coupling rod type UV light sources.
[0076] FIG. 20 illustrates a ray diagram of a reflector using for
coupling light from A UV light source into reactors according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0077] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view along a basic
reactor according to the present invention. The reactor may be used
as a pipeline or as a portion of a pipeline, and is comprised of a
quartz tube (1) located inside a protective metal sleeve (3) with
an air gap (2) in between. The quartz tube (1) is connected on its
first end to a first spacer (4) spacing between the metal sleeve
(3) connected to one of its ends, and between the quartz tube (1).
A second spacer (4a) is spacing between the next ends of the quartz
tube and the protective sleeve. Gaskets (4b) and (4c) seals the
connections between the quartz pipe ends and the respective
spacers. The spacers could be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or
any other acceptable material. They could also be produced from
quartz. Accordingly they can form, if so wished, either an integral
unit with the gaskets (e.g. in case both are rubber made), an
integral unit with the quartz (e.g. in case both are quartz made),
or an integral unit with the protective sleeve (in case both are
made of the same material). The first spacer (4) serves also as
light/fluid mixer unit. A fluid inlet (7) is made at the wall of
the first spacer (4) through which fluid may enter and flow via
quartz tube (1) to reach the outlet (8). The first spacer (4) has a
transparent end (5) through which light may enter into the reactor.
At least one UV light source (6) is positioned opposite the
transparent end wall (5) of the first spacer (4), and it is
preferably should be aligned so as to irradiate into the reactor
light. rays in angles greater then that of the critical angle for
obtaining total internal reflection inside the reactor. The
transparent end wall (5) is illustrated as a flat surface, however
it could be designed in any required form in order to allow
alignment of light energy from light source (or a plurality of
light sources) into the quartz tube (1) which alignment is in a
desired angle for achieving predetermined internal reflection
properties (in most cases total internal reflection will be
preferred). For example, the transparent wall could be formed,
concave, convex, conic, or other. Furthermore, it could be designed
with special optical properties, e.g. as a lens cooperating with
the light sources being aligned and or with reflector or reflectors
of such light sources. Further more the transparency of the end
wall (5) could be made selective, by making it as or by plating it
with or by coupling to it a filter enabling the penetration of a
selected range of wavelengths, or preventing penetration of
selected wavelengths. For example, if the UV light source emits
also radiation in the IR range, or emits UV in a specific undesired
wavelength (e.g. UV wavelength which may cause ozonation of water
molecules) the end wall could be provided with filtering means
avoiding penetration of IR (or of undesired UV wavelength) into the
reactor.
[0078] The scope of the present invention is not limited to any
particular shape of the quartz tube or tubes. These could be
designed to have plain cylindrical shape, or to have any other
desired shape which does not unacceptably deteriorates its internal
reflection properties. Accordingly, it may designed as to have
(either in portions of it or in its entirety) a conical shape, an
elliptical shape, a cubic shape, or combinations thereof.
[0079] FIG. 2 illustrates the general optical path of light
irradiated through the reactor of FIG. 1. The arrows represent the
zigzagging path of light rays irradiating the fluid while being
reflected from the quartz walls. Light rays exiting through the
outlet (8) of the quartz tube continue their path through the
liquid (in case the reactor is fed with liquid through the fluid
inlet (7), then launched out through the outlet (8)) locked in
total internal reflection inside the jet of liquid launched through
the outlet, and follow its trajectory until it reaches its
destination.
[0080] FIG. 3 illustrates in an approximated curve the energy
distribution density in a reactor cross section. The dense of light
rays in the middle of the quartz tube is greater than near the
quartz wall, because through the middle come also light rays
emitted directly from the light source (i.e. without first being
reflected from the walls). The convexity of the illustrated curve
at its mid portion is analogues to the higher density near the
longitudinal axis of the quartz tube, and the inclination of the
curve toward the left on its ends is analogues to the lower density
of the light near the quartz wall.
[0081] FIG. 4 illustrates in an approximate curve the fluid flow
distribution in a reactor cross section. Naturally, the flow speed
of a fluid around the longitudinal axis of a pipeline is higher
than near the pipeline walls. Therefore, greater volumes of fluid
pass in the middle of a pipe then in its margins. The convexity of
the illustrated curve at its mid portion is analogues to the
greater fluid volumes passing near the longitudinal axis of the
quartz tube, and the inclination of the curve toward the left on
its ends is analogues to the fewer fluid, volumes passing near the
quartz wall.
[0082] FIG. 5 illustrates in an approximate curve a superposition
between the curves of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The curve is nearly a
straight line which may represent the nearly uniform dose of light
energy per unit volume of the fluid. This is to say that there is a
compatibility between the distribution of the light energy and the
distribution of the fluid rough the reactor according to the
present invention, which helps in optimization of the energy
amounts invested in the disinfection process.
[0083] FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the optical paths of light
through a quartz reactor according to the present invention. The
line comprised of arrows (a1), (a2), (a3) and (a4) represents a
light ray aligned toward the reactor to hit the inner surface (61)
of the quartz pipe in an angle of incidence equal to the critical
angle marked .crclbar.. The segment (a4) of the ray represents lose
of light energy refracted by the quartz wall (60) to the outer side
of the reactor, nearly parallel to the wall. According to the
present invention such lost light could still be utilized, e.g. for
irradiating air evacuated from a container being filled by an
in-line filler according to the present invention. However in
embodiments of the present invention wherein there is no intention
to lose light energy to the outer side of the quartz tube, the lose
of energy could be minimized by aligning the light from the light
source into the reactor such that it will hit the inner surface
(61) of the quartz wall (60) in an angle of incidence .crclbar.'
greater than the critical angle .crclbar. The line comprised of the
arrows (b1), (b2), (b3), (b4), (b5), (b6), (b7), (b8) represents
light ray aligned to hit the inner surface (61) of the quartz wall
(60) in an angle of incidence a little bit greater than the
critical angle .THETA. As can be seen, this light ray is fully
reflected (b4) from the quartz-air boundary it hits, back (b5) into
the fluid, then (b6) to the quartz--air boundary on the opposite
direction, and so on, zigzagging through the fluid, along the
reactor. As can be seen in this figure, the pairs of arrow lines
(a2) and (a3), as well as (b2) and (b3), (b5) and (b6), (b7) and
(b8) are forming, each pair respectively, angles of spreading out
from the inner side of the reactor into the quartz wall, an vice
versa--angles of spreading out from the quartz wall into the inner
side of the reactor. These angles of spreading are due to the
higher refractive index of the quarts (N2-1.54) comparing to that
of the fluid (N1=1.33 in case the fluid is water; N3=1.0003, in
case the fluid is air), and they are greater in case the reactor is
used for air treatment, which in turn result in larger critical
angle (i.e. for achieving TIR in case the fluid flowing inside the
container is air).
[0084] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of a basic dual
reactor intended to the treatment of liquid in a first flow path
and of gas in a second flow path. Concerning the first flow path
the description is similar to that given in FIG. 1, above.
Concerning the second flow path, air inlet (72) and air outlet (73)
are made in the metal protective sleeve, through which air could
now be caused to flow, being irradiated by light rays refracted out
of the quartz wall either intentionally, or as a lose of light
energy in a non intentional manner.
[0085] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of a basic reactor
having two light radiation sources operating in opposite
directions. This embodiment differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the
reactor is comprised of two units (4') (4'') of the spacer, which
are connected respectively each on a different opposite end of the
quartz tube, instead of spacer (4) and spacer (4a) connected on the
quartz tube of FIG. 1. In this embodiment of FIG. 7, the spacer
(4'') on the right side of this figure, is utilized for exiting the
fluid which has entered the reactor through the fluid inlet (7') of
the left side spacer (4'). Accordingly, the inlet (7'') of the
spacer (4'') is actually using in this present embodiment as a
fluid outlet.
[0086] According to this embodiment the reactor could be irradiated
by light sources (6') and (6''), from opposite directions. These
light sources could be identical ones, or different ones, and they
may be operated simultaneously, or separately, with correlation or
without, all according to design considerations and according to
disinfection process type.
[0087] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view of a basic reactor
having a back reflector. The reactor according to this embodiment
is comprised of a quartz tube (91) opened from its one end to which
a spacer (94) is connected, and closed from its opposite end by
means of a back reflector (99). Fluid may enter the quartz tube
(91) through fluid inlet (97) made in the wall of the spacer (94),
and exit quartz tube through opening (98) made in the quartz wall
and is in fluid communication with fluid outlet (97a), made in the
wall of a spacer (94a) connected on the closed end of the quartz
tube (91). A metal protective sleeve (93) connected between the two
spacers (94) and (94a), covers the quartz tube (91), with an air
gap (92) in between. Gaskets (94b) seal the connections between the
quartz tube (91) and the spacers (94) and (94a). Light directed in
appropriate angles through the reactor transparent end (95) pass
through the reactor either directly or be total internal reflection
between the quartz walls, until it reaches the back reflector (99)
and returns back through the reactor, in both paths (directly and
through TIR).
[0088] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view of another
reactor embodiment according to the present invention, having a
spherical medium-pressure UV lamp and a back reactor. The reactor
is comprised of a quartz tube (101) located inside and spaced from
a protective sleeve (103) with a gap of air (102) in between. The
protective sleeve (103) and the quartz tube (101) are spaced from
one another by spacers (104) and (104a). On its left hand the
quartz tube (101) is opened to a light-fluid mixer unit (104b)
having on its wall a fluid inlet (107). The mixer unit (104b) has a
transparent wall (105) on its end, through which light emitted from
the spherical medium-pressure UV lamp (106) may enter the reactor.
The lamp (106) is coupled into the reactor by means of reflector
(106a) which reflects the light in appropriate angles as for
hitting the quartz wall in angles of incidence greater than the
critical angle for achieving total internal reflection inside the
reactor. The lines (106b) represent the typical path of light rays
thus reflected. On its right hand the quartz tube (101) is opened
to a fluid outlet unit (107a) which has a transparent window (107b)
through which light exits the quartz tube toward a back reflector
(109) which is designed to reflect the exiting light back into the
reactor in appropriate angles for further achieving total internal
reflection inside the quartz tube (101), now in the opposite
direction as represented by arrow (109a).
[0089] FIG. 11 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
embodiment according to the present invention having conical flow
concentrator. This embodiment defers from that of FIG. 1 in that
the quartz tube (111) of the present embodiment changes its form to
a conical shape (111a) for having an outlet (118) of a smaller
diameter comparing to the outlet (8) of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
The protective metal sleeve (113) changes its form to a conical
shape (113a) respectively, and the spacer (114a) has a reduced
diameter, respectively. The conical portion of the reactor acts as
an energy concentrator for increasing the light energy density
towards the end of the reactor, where certain amounts of energy may
have already been absorbed by the liquid.
[0090] FIG. 12 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having light monitoring
detectors. This embodiment differs from that of FIG. 1, by further
having light detectors (129a) and (129b) positioned in the air gap
(122) and fixed to the wall of the protective sleeve (123). The
detectors are used either to monitor the water quality (according
to their turbidity degree which reflects on their transparency to
light, thus on light residuals reaching the detectors (129a)
(129b)) or to control the light energy by increasing intensity or
by activating and inactivating light sources, according to the
monitoring results.
[0091] FIG. 13 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having additional sources of
light radiation, positioned in the air gap between the reactor wall
and its protective sleeve. This is one example of how various light
sources may be combined for the disinfection process according to
the present invention, wherein the length of the reactor could be
utilized for positioning longitudinally shaped UV light tubes
(136a) (136b), in addition to any other light source (or sources)
(136), positioned opposite the transparent end wall (135).
[0092] FIG. 14 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having a bent portion. This
embodiment differs from that of FIG. 1, by having a bent quartz
tube (141), and correspondingly bent metal sleeve (143) as a
protective sleeve to the fragile quartz. The bending in the quartz
tube is made in an appropriate radius (i.e. not less than required
to assure that the (minimal possible angle of incidence will not be
less than the critical angle for TIR) as to maintain the total
internal reflection properties of the tube.
[0093] FIG. 15 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention ending with a quartz extension
(150) protruding from the protective sleeve (153) and from the
spacer (154a) for acting as a disinfecting and washing device
and/or as an aseptic filler device, further to the in-line liquid
treatment made inside the reactor. The edge of the tube could be
prepared to have optical properties useful for the intended
utilization of the emitted light. For example the edge could be
formed convex or concave, and may be inclined inwardly or outwardly
as an alternative to the depicted straight form. The surface of the
quartz extension (150) may be etched or grooved (or as an
alternative the quartz could be produced with internal impurities)
for light diffusion as represented by arrows (150a), such that part
of the light is emitted directly from the etched or grooved region
to target surfaces (e.g. the inner walls of a bottle in which the
right end of the reactor is lowered) for dry disinfection. Such dry
disinfection could be performed by the reactor of this present
embodiment prior to streaming the liquid through the reactor and
continued thereafter during the filling procedure of the container
to be filled with the in-line disinfected liquid.
[0094] FIG. 15A illustrates a reactor embodiment wherein the tube
has been replaced by a quartz rod (159), useful for dry
disinfection e.g. of pre filled containers or bottles by inserting
the rod through the container opening of a pre-filled container and
irradiating it with UV germicidal light, in a similar manner to
irradiating the reactor of the embodiment of FIG. 15. The rod (159)
could be grooved or etched (or as an alternative the quartz could
be produced with internal impurities) for homogenous light
diffusion, and its right hand edge (159a) could be formed convex or
concave, for respective diffusion or concentration of light, as an
alternative to the depicted straight form. If so wished this
present embodiment could be used for disinfecting filled containers
by immersing the rod inside the liquid and irradiating the reactor
and in turn the container liquid content.
[0095] FIG. 15B illustrates a reactor embodiment with a tube closed
at its right end with an end optic member (158), wherein the fluid
inlet (157) and the fluid outlet (157a) are made in the spacer
(154c), and wherein the tube could be utilized for dry cleaning
similarly to the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 15A. The tube wall
could be grooved or etched (or as an alternative the quartz could
be produced with internal impurities) for homogenous light
diffusion, and its right hand edge could be formed convex or
concave, for respective diffusion or concentration of light, as an
alternative to the depicted straight form.
[0096] FIG. 16 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having a quartz multi-core
comprising two quartz tubes forming double length flow path. The
reactor according to this present embodiment is comprised of a
first quartz tube (161) closed on its right hand by a back wall
(161a). This wall may be transparent in order to allow positioning
an external back reflector on the right hand of the reactor such
that light exiting through the back wall (161a) could be reflected
back from the external reflector into the reactor, or in order to
allow positioning another light source to emit light radiation into
the reactor in a direction opposite to that of the light originated
by the light source (166) positioned on the left hand of the
reactor. According to other variation of the present embodiment,
the back wall (161a) is a reflector (or a mirror) by itself,
reflecting back the light arriving to it from the light source
(166). A second quartz tube (261) is positioned inside the quartz
tube (161) participating with it the back wall (161a) which blocks
the right hand of the quartz tube (261) as well. On the left hand
of both the first and the second quartz tubes (161) and (261),
respectively, a ring shaped wall (261a) blocks the right hand end
of the gap formed between both tubes. The second (inner) quartz
tube (261) is in fluid communication with the first (outer) quartz
tube (161) through apertures (261b), thus allows for fluid flow
from the fluid inlet (167) in the direction of the arrows (269a)
(269b) (269c) to an outlet aperture (161b) made in the quartz wall
of the first (outer) quartz tube (161) and communicated with the
fluid outlet (167a) made in the spacer (164). This embodiment of
reactor allows for duplicating the fluid flow path length through a
reactor of similar dimensions as that of the embodiment illustrated
by FIG. 1. In a similar manner, additional inner quartz tubes of
descending smaller diameters could be provided, one inside the
other about a common longitudinal axis, to form a multi core
reactor. The multi-core reactor could be designed with internal
walls and fluid communication apertures to form one flow path of a
length multiplied according to the number of tubes, or to form a
plurality of separate flow paths, according the embodiment
illustrated by FIG. 17 for a dual flow path.
[0097] FIG. 17 illustrates a cross sectional view of a reactor
according to the present invention having a quartz multi-core
comprising two quartz tubes forming dual flow path. The dual flow
path according to this embodiment is provided by means of quartz
made double wall cylinder (171), wherein the hollow space (171c)
formed between its double walls (171a) and (171b) is isolated from
the inner space (171d) of the double wall cylinder (171).
Accordingly, a first flow path is provided through the inner space
(171d) of the double wall cylinder (171) similarly to the flow path
through the quartz tube (1) of the embodiment illustrated by FIG.
1. Fluid entering the reactor through fluid inlet (177) flow
through the inner space (171d) of the double wall cylinder (171)
until it exits the reactor through fluid outlet (178). In case a
triple flow path reactor is required, or a reactor of a greater
number of flow paths is required, additional quartz tubes of
descending diameters should be added one inside another to form a
multi wall cylinder of a plurality of separate inner spaces,
wherein each inner space has its own fluid inlet and fluid outlet
(the inlet and outlet of the inner walls can be piped to the
outside through the external walls, or could be made at the right
end and left end walls of the cylinder and piped directly to the
spacer.
[0098] A second flow path is provided between a second fluid inlet
(277) made in the wall of the spacer (174) and communicating with
an inlet aperture (171e) made near the left end of the external
quartz wall of the double wall cylinder (171), and between a second
fluid outlet (277a) made in the wall of the right hand spacer
(174a) and communicating with an outlet aperture (171f) made near
the right end of the external quartz wall of the double wall
cylinder (171). Although the two flow paths are separate, they are
both irradiated from the same light source (or sources) due to
internal reflection between the outer wall of the double wall
cylinder (171) which crosses the inner wall of this quartz made
cylinder, as well.
[0099] FIG. 18 illustrates multi reactor system architecture
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention. This
architecture involves reactor sections (180a) (180b) (180c)
connected to one another in substantially right angle junctions
(181) (182), wherein in each junction two light sources (181a)
(181b), and (182a) (182b) are aligned with substantially right
angle in between, to illuminate respectively into each of the
reactor sections projected from the junction.
[0100] FIG. 19 illustrates multi reactor system architecture
according to another embodiment of the present invention,
especially useful for coupling rod type UV light sources. According
to this new architecture geometry, a microwave excited
electrodeless UV plasma light tube (190) having an elongated form
is positioned with its axis parallel to a substantially straight
window (192) made in or being the wall of a junction (193) between
two ends of reactor segments (191a) and (191b) oriented with an
angle (w) between them both, the angle (w) is preferably as twice
or more wider than the critical angle for total internal reflection
in the pipe segments, such that the light emitted from a
substantially one half of the UV light tube length enters the
window (192) and irradiating (190a) the water accommodated in one
of the pipe segments while the light emitted from substantially the
second half of the UV light tube length enters the window (192) and
irradiating the water accommodated in the second of the two pipe
segments. The UV light tube (190) is equipped with a reflector
(199) on its backside (the side of it which is opposite to the
window (192)) which is designed to reflect light emitted from the
backside of the light tube (190) or light reflected back from the
window (192), back into the two reactor segments (191a) and (191b).
The architecture of such two reactor segments will be referred to
hereinafter also as "truncated A reactor". According to various
preferred embodiments of the present embodiment the truncated A
reactor architecture is designed as a modular system wherein a
plurality of truncated A reactors could be connected one to another
as a chain in order to provide an extended flow path reactor.
[0101] FIG. 20 illustrates a ray diagram of a reflector (200) using
for coupling light from a UV light source (206) into reactors such
as (201) according to the present invention. As can be appreciated,
the light rays originated by the light source (206) in a peripheral
manner, are reflected into the reactor (201) such that those of the
light rays (represented by the depicted web of lies) who hit the
reactor walls, hits in angles not greater than a predetermined
angle, aimed to be the critical angle for total internal reflection
of the light inside the reactor.
[0102] By utilizing the aforementioned embodiments or combinations
thereof, the method according to the present invention allows for
coupling a plurality of light engines into a hydro-optical
geometry, lasers or lamps externally to the reactor while keeping
angular orientation in modular format allowing the construction of
wide myriad of reactors for sterilization and oxidation of inflow,
inline water effluent, flow or for sterilization and
decontamination of air, gases, surfaces or combinations.
[0103] The method according to the present invention provides for
inline treatment and sterilization of air or gas inflow in cheese
drying rooms, in diaries and milk production sites, in agro food
production factories and in biomedical and pharmaceutical
industries, in electronic industries, in green houses, in domestic
air-conditioning systems, and in critical air or gas passages to
human dwellings, shopping centers and malls, conference rooms,
hotels, and in urban concentrations.
[0104] The reactors of the present invention, and in particular the
truncated modular A shape could be used for inline treatment and
sterilization of municipal drinking water, Ultra Pure Water (UPW)
water for electronic industries, processed water for paper
industries, aquaculture and fisheries, mineral, spring and bottled
water, HOD (Home & Office Delivery services), for 5 gallon
water jugs industry, for cooler industries, water reclamation,
waste water or any combination thereof, water for baby foods and
for washing food and medicine packaging and for germ free
production of pharmaceutical products or for bio-security of
domestic, industrial, commercial and public water systems, for
desalination plants and for cooling towers or combinations.
[0105] In order to enhance the disinfection procedures according to
the method of the present invention, the treatment of the fluids
may further comprise adding small concentrations (e.g. 0.001%, or
e.g. 0.01% or e.g. 0.1%, or e.g. 0.3%, or any other required
concentration as known standards allow according to the particular
case) of oxidizing agents, e.g. H2O2, to the flowing fluid, which
could then be dissociated by the UV light energy, during the
disinfection process, forming free radicals which may very
effectively destroy various bacteria species of violent nature.
[0106] The treatment procedure may further comprise dissolving into
the liquid being treated oxygen, or air, in order to create
internal light diffuser comprising of a plurality of refractive
index profiles within the liquid, useful for homogenous diffusion
of light energy in the water.
* * * * *